diff --git a/ietf/utils/models.py b/ietf/utils/models.py
index 1ea816bd2..0915537fd 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/models.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/models.py
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-# Copyright The IETF Trust 2015, All Rights Reserved
+# Copyright The IETF Trust 2015-2020, All Rights Reserved
+
+import itertools
 
 from django.db import models
 
@@ -26,3 +28,17 @@ class OneToOneField(models.OneToOneField):
     def __init__(self, to, on_delete=models.CASCADE, **kwargs):
         return super(OneToOneField, self).__init__(to, on_delete=on_delete, **kwargs)
         
+def object_to_dict(instance):
+    """
+    Similar to django.forms.models.model_to_dict() but more comprehensive.
+
+    Taken from https://stackoverflow.com/questions/21925671/#answer-29088221
+    with a minor tweak: .id --> .pk
+    """
+    opts = instance._meta
+    data = {}
+    for f in itertools.chain(opts.concrete_fields, opts.private_fields):
+        data[f.name] = f.value_from_object(instance)
+    for f in opts.many_to_many:
+        data[f.name] = [i.pk for i in f.value_from_object(instance)]
+    return data